Risk Factors for Gambling Problems Specifically Associated with Sports Betting

Background: Voluntary self-exclusion is a well-known harm reduction intervention in problem gambling, although primarily in operator-specific or venue-based systems. A nationwide overall self-exclusion system (“Spelpaus”) for all licensed gambling was introduced in Sweden in 2019. However, gambling in overseas companies despite national exclusion may be a concern in online gamblers. The present web survey study aimed to study self-reported self-exclusion and gambling despite exclusion in a nationwide multi-operator land-based/online exclusion system.Methods: Web survey in web panel members of a market survey company, carried out in May, 2020 (co-occurring with the COVID-19 pandemic). Past-year online gamblers (n = 997) answered questions about gambling patterns, gambling problems, psychological distress, self-exclusion since “Spelpaus” introduction, and gambling despite self-exclusion.Results: Seven percent reported ever self-excluded at Spelpaus, and this was associated with younger age, female gender, gambling problems, and chance-based games and online poker. In logistic regression, Spelpaus remained strongly associated with past-year online casino gambling, gambling problems, and absence of past-year sports betting. Among those having self-excluded, 38 percent reported gambling despite self-exclusion, most commonly online casino.Conclusions: In online gamblers in a setting with a nationwide self-exclusion system, using this was associated with past-year online casino gambling and gambling problems. Gambling despite self-exclusion appears to be common, and more commonly involves online casino. Stakeholders should aim to increase rates of self-exclusion in high-risk online gamblers, both during and beyond the COVID-19 situation in which the study was carried out. Also, policy makers should use gambling regulation in order to decrease the risk of breaching self-exclusion online, such as through the prohibition of non-registered gambling operators. Further research should focus on in-depth analysis of the reasons for gamblers to enroll or not enroll in multi-operator self-exclusion.

Download Full-text

Changes in Gambling Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Web Survey Study in Sweden

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17114013 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (11) ◽

pp. 4013 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Anders Håkansson

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Gambling Behavior ◽

Sports Betting ◽

Self Report ◽

Survey Study ◽

Web Survey ◽

Gambling Problems ◽

Preventive Action ◽

Report Data ◽

Self Report Data

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed everyday life, and policy makers have raised concerns about possible changes in gambling patterns during the pandemic. This study aimed to examine whether self-reported gambling has increased during the pandemic, and to examine potential correlates of such a change. This general population survey study in Sweden collected self-report data from 2016 web survey members (51 percent men, nine percent moderate-risk/problem gamblers). Correlates of increased gambling and increased gambling specifically due to COVID-19-related cancellation of sports were calculated. Four percent reported an overall gambling increase during the pandemic. The proportion of individuals reporting an increase, compared to individuals reporting a decrease, was markedly higher for online casinos (0.62), online horse betting (0.76) and online lotteries (0.73), and lower for sports betting (0.11). Overall, gambling increases were independently associated with gambling problems and increased alcohol consumption. In the sub-group, where there was an increase in specific gambling types in response to cancelled sports betting events, rates of gambling problems were high. In conclusion, only a minority report increased gambling in response to the pandemic, but this group has markedly higher gambling problems and changes in alcohol consumption, and may represent a sub-group with a particularly high vulnerability. This calls for preventive action in people with higher gambling risks in response to the pandemic.

Download Full-text

Risk Factors for Gambling Problems: An Analysis by Gender

Journal of Gambling Studies ◽

10.1007/s10899-015-9548-8 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 511-534 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

Nerilee Hing ◽

Alex Russell ◽

Barry Tolchard ◽

Lia Nower

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Gambling Problems

Download Full-text

Skin in the game – Erroneous beliefs and emotional involvement as correlates of athletes' sports betting behavior and problems

Journal of Behavioral Addictions ◽

10.1556/2006.2021.00034 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Christopher M. Jones ◽

Benjamin Noël

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Gambling Behavior ◽

Sports Betting ◽

German Population ◽

Emotional Involvement ◽

Individual Level ◽

Long Run ◽

Potential Risk Factors ◽

Erroneous Beliefs ◽

Betting Behavior

AbstractBackground and aimsThe sports betting market has been growing rapidly over the last years, as have reports of problematic gambling behavior associated with betting. Due to the well-documented gambling problems of famous athletes and the betting supportive nature of many sports-related environments, athletes have been highlighted as a potential group at-risk for problematic sports betting. However, there currently remains a lack of research on individual-level athlete-specific risk-factors or mechanisms that might contribute to the development and perpetuation of betting-related problems. Here, we examine the influence of two potential risk-factors on sports betting behavior and problems: erroneous beliefs and athletes' emotional involvement.Methods201 athletes with different levels of expertise completed a newly developed scale to assess both factors. Participants were sampled from the general German population, predominantly male (83.08%) and on average 29.52 (SD = 11.05) years old. We use principal components analysis to detect patterns of covariation, potentially due to the proposed underlying latent factors, and regression analyses to test associations of these factors with betting behavior and problems.ResultsWe find that athletes' emotional involvement was strongly associated with betting problems whereas erroneous beliefs were not. However, distorted cognitions/beliefs were associated with higher volumes and more frequent betting activities.Discussion and ConclusionsThis might contribute to betting problems in the long run. These results highlight athletes' emotional involvement and erroneous beliefs as potential targets for future intervention and prevention efforts.

Download Full-text

Inventaire des cognitions à risque — Loteries sportives (ICR-LS) : un premier pas dans l’élaboration de mesures spécifiques au type de jeu/The Inventaire des cognitions à risque Loteries Sportives: A First Step in Developing Game-Specific Measures

Journal of Gambling Issues ◽

10.4309/jgi.2021.47.12 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jonathan Mercier ◽

Serge Sévigny ◽

Christian Jacques ◽

Isabelle Giroux

Keyword(s):

Convergent Validity ◽

Principal Component ◽

Sports Betting ◽

Gambling Problem ◽

Gambling Problems ◽

Problem Gamblers ◽

Statistiquement Significatives ◽

Sports Lottery ◽

Two Factors ◽

Problem Severity

À travers le monde, les paris sportifs représentent la deuxième forme de jeux de hasard et d’argent (JHA) la plus associée aux problèmes de jeu. Les cognitions des parieurs sportifs pourraient contribuer à cette association. Cependant, aucun outil ne semble adapté aux parieurs de loteries sportives, principalement à cause de la composante d’habileté. Cette étude vise (a) à développer l’Inventaire des cognitions à risque — Loteries sportives (ICR-LS) et en déterminer la structure factorielle, (b) à évaluer la validité de convergence de l’ICR-LS avec Gambling Related Cognitions Scale (GRCS), les habitudes de jeu, et la gravité des problèmes de jeu; et (c) à évaluer les liens entre le nombre d’heures mensuelles consacrées à la préparation des paris aux loteries sportives et les habitudes de jeu. Les parieurs sportifs recrutés (N = 272) étaient principalement de sexe masculin (86,5 %), dans la vingtaine (M = 26,7 ans) et issus de la communauté universitaire (88,3 %). Les analyses en composantes principales indiquent que l’instrument possède deux dimensions (Superstitions et Habiletés), une forte cohérence interne (les coefficients alpha > ,85) et une bonne validité convergente. Des associations négligeables, mais statistiquement significatives, ressortent entre l’ICR-LS et le montant annuel dépensé aux loteries, les heures consacrées à la préparation des paris et la gravité des problèmes de jeu. En outre, le temps consacré à la préparation des paris sportifs est modérément corrélé avec le montant dépensé, la fréquence de jeu et la gravité des problèmes de jeu, ce qui incite à y voir, peut-être, un facteur de risque lié aux loteries sportives. Le temps consacré à la préparation des paris sportifs et ses effets sur les différentes sphères de vie mériteraient d’être étudiés davantage, notamment auprès de joueurs problématiques.AbstractAround the world, sports betting is the second type of gambling activity most associated with gambling problems. Thus, sports bettors’ cognitions play an essential role in this association. However, no instrument is specifically designed to assess sports bettors’ cognitions. This study aims (a) to develop the Inventaire des cognitions à risque — Loteries sportives (ICR-LS) and to determine its factor structure, (b) to assess the convergent validity of the ICR-LS with the Gambling Related Cognitions Scale (GRCS), gambling habits, and the severity of gambling problems; and (c) to assess the links between the number of monthly hours spent preparing for sports lottery bets and gambling habits. Participants are sport lottery bettors (N = 272) that are mainly men (86.5%) in their twenties (M = 26.7 years old), and from a university community (88.3%). Principal component analysis results indicate that the instrument is composed of two factors (Superstitions and Abilities), and shows strong internal consistency (coefficients alpha > .85) and good convergent validity. The scale shows statistically significant but negligible associations with the annual amount spent on lotteries, hours spent on the preparation of bets, and gambling problem severity. In addition, time dedicated to bet preparation is moderately associated with the amount spent, gambling frequency, and gambling problem severity, suggesting that sports bettors bet preparation time could be a risk factor in sports betting. Studies should explore further the amount of time dedicated to bet preparation and its effects on different spheres of life, especially for problem gamblers.

Download Full-text

Are esports bettors a new generation of harmed gamblers? A comparison with sports bettors on gambling involvement, problems, and harm

Journal of Behavioral Addictions ◽

10.1556/2006.2021.00039 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nancy Greer ◽

Matthew J Rockloff ◽

Alex M T Russell ◽

Lisa Lole

Keyword(s):

Problem Gambling ◽

Video Game ◽

English Language ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Sports Betting ◽

Problem Gambler ◽

Gambling Problems ◽

Games Of Chance ◽

Traditional Sports ◽

Gambling Involvement

AbstractBackground and aimsEsports betting is expanding in popularity, yet little is known about who participates in this niche gambling activity. This study aimed to determine whether esports bettors are more vulnerable to harms and problems than gamblers engaged in traditional sports betting.MethodsData were collected from 298 regular esports bettors and 300 sports bettors (who regularly bet on traditional sports, but not esports). These groups were compared on demographics, gambling involvement, problem gambling, and gambling-related harms.ResultsCompared to sports bettors, esports bettors were more likely to be younger, university-educated, employed (lower income earners), and speak a non-English language at home. Esports bettors gambled on fewer traditional gambling activities in the last 12 months, but compared to sports bettors, gambled more frequently on some activities, were more likely to meet problem gambler criteria (64.8.% vs 17.3%), and experience at least one gambling-related harm (81.9% vs 45.3%). Being an esports bettor significantly predicted greater problem gambling severity and gambling-related harms. More frequent esports skin betting and skin gambling (on games of chance) were significant predictors of gambling problems amongst esports bettors.Discussion and conclusionThe results provide preliminary evidence that esports bettors are more likely to experience gambling problems compared to their sports betting counterparts, potentially stemming from their involvement in emerging video-game related gambling products.

Download Full-text